When the dust storms hit these areas, they coated everything in sight in dust. Ann Marie Low, a member of a farming family, described the aftermath of one of the Dust Storms in her diary. In spring of 1934, she wrote: “after we wash the dishes and put them away, so much dust sifts into the cupboards we must wash them again before the next meal. Clothes in the closets are covered with dust”( “Living in the Dust Bowl, 1934”). The dust even entered homes, coating their interiors as well as their exteriors.
The dust storms not only covered everything in dust. They also worsened the farmers’ situation to the point that many farmers were forced to abandon their farms. These abandoned farms (see picture at left) were a sign of the bleak times. Many traveled to California with the hope of taking jobs as migrant workers in order to sustain their families. However, more tough times lay ahead for those who traveled to California.
A Cloak of Dust: The Immediate Aftermath